Improvement in fences



0. H. SMITH.

. FENCE.

No. 186,631. Patented Jan. 23,1877.

INVENTOR Unrrnn STATES PATENT QEFIGE ORLANDO H. SMITH, OF ELLIOOTTSVILLE, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,631, dated January 23, 1877; application filed November 15, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORLANDO H. SMITH, of Ellicottsville, in the county of Oattaraugus and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it.pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in fences.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a fence embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the fence post or support. Fig. 3 represents the loop or binder for the posts. Fig. 4 is a modified form of construction.

The object of my invention 'is to construct afence having fence-posts which shall rest on the surface of the ground, and arranged to brace the fence both laterally and longitudinally, the several rails or braces forming a post being locked together in such a manner that their upper ends will form a crotch to support the fence-rider or top rail, the weight of which operates to secure the fence-post in a fixedposition.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents my improved fence-post, which consists of the braces a b c d, secured at their upper ends by a metallic loop, B, which latter may be either welded or its ends twisted and locked together, as found most expedient in practice. The metallic loop B is oblong in form, and tapering in the direction of its length, so that as the several posts are inserted therein, and the loop is lowered preferably from twelve to twenty inches from the upper ends of the posts, the upper ends of the posts will form a crotch, into which the rider 0 of the fence may be placed, and securely held therein.

' It will be noticed that the laterally-supporting posts a b have a bearing against the wide end of the loop B, and posts 0 d are locked in the contracted portion of the same, thus causing the upper ends of posts a c d to form one side of the crotch for the rider, and the single post 12 the opposite side of said crotch.

While it is evident that the fence-panels may be constructed in any desired manner, I

have shown one form well suited and adapted for use with fence posts of the character described.

To the rider (3 two or more rails or boards, D, are secured by wires E, the lengths of which having been determined, they are placed on the top of rider 0, and their ends bent around beneath said rider, forming a twist, f, beneath the same, when a rail or board -is placed between the wires, and the latter brought around and twisted below said rail or board.

This operation is continued until as many rails are added as are desired, when the free ends of the wire may be secured to the inner posts or braces 0, thus firmly securing the panels to the posts.

A fence constructed in accordance with my invention is most economical in its initial cost, as short rails or pieces of old rails may be used for posts, the lower ends of which are arranged to simply rest on the surface of the ground, and in this upright position the timber will remain sound for a much longer'period than if the posts were inserted in the ground.

The fence possesses greatstability, as the lower ends of the posts are straddled or extended from each other at right angles to give a broad and equal bearing for each post, thus forming a pyramid to resist either lateral or longitudinal pressure. The weight of the I fence-rider, and, in fact, of the entire panel, resting in the crotches formed by the upper crossed ends of the posts, serves to lock the four rails or braces of a post securely in position.

When it is desired to remove the fence, the

panel being bodily removed from the posts,

the latter are contracted into small compass, and transported without difficulty, while the fence may be readily moved by two persons without interfering with the structure of the same, and this latter feature is of no little importance, as, for instance, when it is desired to plow the ground on which the fence is situs ted.

It is evident that three posts may be used instead of four, as heretofore set forth, and in such case the loop should be triangular in form, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings; but the preferable form of construction is that shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, when four posts are employed, and insure support against both lateral and longitudinal strains.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The combination, with two or more fenceposts, each consisting of four braces or supports secured by an oblong loop, of a rider,

0, having rails secured thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of November, 1876. I

, ORLANDO H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. SEYMOUR,

THOMAS B. HALL. 

